Toddler among 3 people injured in S.W. crash

70-year-old man and 2-year-old girl in life-threatening condition in hospital

Three people, including a toddler, were taken to hospital following a crash in the southwest Calgary community of Shawnessy late Thursday morning.

Three people were taken to hospital after a crash in the city's southwest. (Maureen Miller/CBC)

Police say a woman and her two-year-old daughter waiting at a crosswalk were hit by a car driven by an elderly man at Shawville Gate and Shawville Boulevard around 11 a.m. MT.

A group of high school students say they watched the man's car take out signs for a couple of blocks as people were jumping out of the way of the vehicle.

"We see him go across the crosswalk, there's a red light over there, and he just goes across and then he hits a stroller with a baby in it, and the mom goes diving out of the way," said Colton Eppleston. "The stroller goes flying in the air, like literally 15 feet in the air — just debris going everywhere."

The students rushed to the aid of the victims, called 911, pulled the man out of his vehicle and tried to calm down the mother who received minor injuries.

"EMS would just like to pass a thank you to them," said EMS spokesperson Adam Loria. "Not only for activating 911 very quickly, but upon our arrival there were actually a number of bystanders very willing to assist us, assist the wounded."

Sgt. Daran Wood says it appears the 70-year-old driver suffered from some kind of medical issue and was likely unconscious when his car struck the two pedestrians before finally hitting a utility box and coming to a stop.

"As it looks right now, we don't have any indicators of braking," he said.

An investigation into the crash is still underway.

Corrections

The toddler that was hit had just celebrated her second birthday and was not three years old, as originally reported by police.